Vampire Weekend - Harmony Hall/2021 (Single Review)

After a six year absence, the New York indie stars are finally back with two new songs: "Harmony Hall" and "2021" ahead of their new album "Father Of The Bride".

Vampire Weekend, or the lack of, has caused a bit of a void in the indie scene and for them to be making such huge waves with their comeback is brilliant to see, especially when the tunes really are there to back. Everyone's been saying these two new tracks are "predictable", which is probably quite accurate really because their sound is the same as ever, or if anything even fresher and more organic than ever. These songs are so typical but so accomplishing and so welcome it's impossible to deny the quality of the musicianship that's behind them as Ezra and co. deliver an instant classic in "Harmony Hall" and a thoughtfull cut in "2021".

"Harmony Hall" begins with a beautiful and tranquil, stripped back melody that instantly appears organic and yet quickly builds to a flavoursome and more full sounding chorus that, on the second time around delivers big with lavish instrumentation before making way to a piano instrumental middle 8 section and then a more quirky breakdown before the final chorus, sounding perfectly balanced in its joint use of mellow, melancholy lyrics with the upbeat tempo and music to back. My main criticism is just that it doesn't grab me quite as much as some of their previous songs like "Hannah Hunt" or "Taxi Cab", perhaps just because it doesn't seem to be doing anything new.

Atmosphere: 5/5
Catchiness: 3/5
Lyrics: 3/5
Instrumentation: 4/5
Production: 4/5

Overall rating: strong 7 out of 10

"2021" is the more experimental of the songs and features a repetitive sample that would be annoying if the song was longer than 1:38. The instrumental is quite looping and simple, Ezra Koenig's voice gliding beautifully smoothly over the top with lyrics that in my opinion hit harder than "Harmony Hall". There's not much else to say, I do enjoy the production and it's still a good song just not the band's best.

Atmosphere: 4/5
Catchiness: 3/5
Lyrics: 4/5
Instrumentation: 2/5
Production: 4/5

Overall rating: strong 6 out of 10

My conclusive thoughts are positive, although I do have to say I'm less exciting for their upcoming album "Father Of The Bride" than I was. Vampire Weekend are a band that have in the past delivered great singles and even greater deep cuts, so hopefully these singles being pretty good means somewhere deep into the 18 tracks there'll be something really great.